2026 Conference Program

EVENT AGENDA (schedule subject to change)

8:00 am – 8:30 am – Course Check-In/Coffee
8:30 am – 10:00 am – Program
10:00 am – 10:15 am – Morning Break
10:15 am – 12:00 pm – Program
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Program
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Afternoon Break
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Program
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Self Study
4:00 – 5:00 pm – Exam (Optional)

Click here to register

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First time joining us at the CAEM Annual Conference? Don’t miss the First-Timers’ Reception, where this year’s CAEM Team, Conference Co-Chairs and Board of Directors are excited to welcome you and offer some tips and tricks to get the most out of your CAEM and Conference experience.

Join us for a drink and get a head start on this year’s exciting conference Monday between 5:00PM-6:00PM!

Please note: This event is open to first time conference attendees, the CAEM Board and the Conference Co-Chairs (by invitation only).

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Kick off the Conference in style at Augustus 27

Proudly Sponsored by Caesars Windsor

Join us for an unforgettable Opening Reception high above the city on the stunning rooftop of Caesars Windsor!

Monday, June 15th at 6 p.m.

Reconnect with colleagues, spark new connections, and enjoy an evening of incredible food, refreshing drinks, and spectacular views. Celebrate the start of an amazing conference with great company and an atmosphere you won’t want to miss.

Let’s raise a glass to an exciting few days ahead!  We can’t wait to see you there!

**The Monday night opening reception is included for all full delegate registrations.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $130 plus applicable taxes.**

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WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

The Annual General Meeting is your opportunity to hear what the association has done and what it plans to do. You are encouraged to attend and exercise your basic membership rights. 

WHO MAY ATTEND?

Any CAEM member may attend the meeting. In accordance with our membership participation rights policy, this means any exposition member, or named representative of an associate member company for whom a fee is paid.

 WHO MAY VOTE?

Any exposition member in good standing, and the primary designated representative of an associate member company (one per associate member company) in good standing may vote. 

Please contact the CAEM office if you are not sure whether you are a voting member. A membership status review will take place prior to the meeting.

WHAT DOES ‘MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING’ MEAN?

It means simply that your 2026 fees have been paid and that the payment has been deposited and cleared. If a fee payment is made at the meeting or a few days before, it must be made by certified cheque or by credit card.

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LUNCH SPONSORED BY

 MIMOSA SPONSOR

The Innovator’s Lab: Designing for Success

AI, generational change, rising costs, travel challenges, and increasing pressure on budgets and ROI are reshaping the events industry. With the emergence of “NowGens” – Millennials and Gen Z – the role and expected impact of tradeshows, conferences, and events has never been greater.  The most important of these changes: designing for impact. Attendees want experiences that are easy, personalized, and aligned with their objectives. Exhibitors and sponsors are looking for insights and strategies to engage audiences, optimize performance, and deliver ROI. This session will unpack what’s important and share examples of how organizations are innovating events for success.

Speaker David Saef is Chief Instigator at Freeman, where he leads the Strategy & Insights practice focused on driving growth, engagement, and business transformation for associations and events. With more than 20 years of experience, David has advised organizations including the National Retail Federation, Procter & Gamble, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Indeed.com, and the American Heart Association on complex strategy and growth initiatives. David has held leadership roles at GES and Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, specializing in event strategy and marketing services, and also spent time with L.E.K. Consulting in both London and Chicago. Known for combining analytical rigor with a human-centered approach, David is a frequent speaker and thought leader in the live events and association sectors.

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Join this dynamic, high-impact session featuring live AI demos, real-time audience interaction, and practical, real-world examples from trade and consumer shows. Plus, get insights tailored to the Canadian market so you can make smarter decisions about tools, pricing, and your tech stack.

You’ll leave with:

• A powerful new way to think about AI
• A proven framework to break outdated habits
• A smarter, Canada-ready tech strategy
• A workflow you can use immediately
• The confidence to shift from reactive to strategic

Speaker Dahlia El Gazzar has an OMG-attitude about all things event tech and experience design. With over a decade in the meetings and events sector, working on both the professional planning side and as an association collaborator, she’s the coffee-fuelled go-to source for trend-setting solutions, event tech news, and practical strategies built for show organizers.

Dahlia cuts through the hype and gets straight to what matters: real workflows, real tools, and real results. From trade show marketing to exhibitor comms to sponsorship ROI, she brings live demos, hands-on prompts, and unique lens to help event pros stop reacting and start leading with confidence.

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Please RSVP to the event on our LinkedIn event page

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Tuesday night event at Walkerville Brewery

Sponsored by The International Centre

Join us for an unforgettable evening!

6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• Come raise a glass to celebrate some of the best beers the region has to offer!  Walkerville Brewery is pouring a curated selection of craft brews, special releases, and friendly faces all night long.
• Get ready to enjoy some live tunes, featuring one of the best local bands!
• Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with a variety of tasty options for everyone!

**Tuesday night event is included for all full delegate registrations.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $155 plus applicable taxes.**

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Don’t just learn – apply.

Join small-group, high-energy discussions led by Dahlia to tackle your biggest challenges and opportunities.

Dive into topics like:

• AI for marketing, exhibitor communications & sponsorships
• Smarter campaigns, audience targeting & ROI storytelling
• Operations, logistics & floor planning
• Scaling AI from solo planners to large teams

This is where the future of events gets practical.

Facilitator Dahlia El Gazzar has an OMG-attitude about all things event tech and experience design. With over a decade in the meetings and events sector, working on both the professional planning side and as an association collaborator, she’s the coffee-fuelled go-to source for trend-setting solutions, event tech news, and practical strategies built for show organizers.

Dahlia cuts through the hype and gets straight to what matters: real workflows, real tools, and real results. From trade show marketing to exhibitor comms to sponsorship ROI, she brings live demos, hands-on prompts, and unique lens to help event pros stop reacting and start leading with confidence.

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Trade Show Performance & Outlook: Actionable Insights and Tools for Canadian Organizers

Join Center for Exhibition Industry Research for a fast, data driven briefing on the state of the business meetings and trade show industry—globally, in North America, and in the U.S.—with clear implications for Canadian organizers.

Drawing on CEIR’s latest Index data, this session will highlight performance trends, near term outlooks, and external factors shaping demand, helping you better anticipate risks and opportunities for your events.

You’ll also learn how CEIR’s Organizer Performance Benchmark Playbooks equip organizers with trusted benchmarks to assess event performance, identify strengths and gaps, and support smarter strategic planning. These tools translate industry data into practical insight you can put to work immediately.

In addition, CEIR will share key findings from new research on what emerging leaders and young professionals value most in trade show floor engagement—including the experiences, environments, and interactions that drive learning, connection, and perceived value. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable takeaways to help evolve show floors and better engage the next generation of professional attendees.

In This Session:

• Business meeting and trade show performance trends shaping the market
• Organizer benchmark insights and how to apply them to your events
• Emerging leader and young professional engagement preferences—and what they mean for show design and strategy

Designed for Canadian organizers, this session delivers practical intelligence you can use to strengthen performance today while preparing your shows for what’s next.

Facilitator, Nancy Drapeau, IPC, brings over 30 years of market research expertise to the B2B exhibitions industry. As a key voice at Center for Exhibition Industry Research, a division of IAEE, she leads influential, industry-wide studies that track trends and deliver insights to help event professionals stay ahead of the curve. A frequent speaker at conferences and forums, Nancy was named one of BizBash’s 1,000 Most Influential People in Events in 2019.

She holds a BA in Government from Georgetown University, a Graduate Diploma in International Studies from l’IEHEI, and is a trained focus group moderator through the AC Nielsen Burke Institute. Nancy is a member of the Industry Insights Association and has contributed her expertise to the Event Industry Council’s Research & Advocacy Task Force.

Based in Maine, she enjoys life by the coast with her husband and their energetic border collie, Moxie.

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WINNING Both Sides of the Table
RFPs, Relationships, and What Actually Works

In today’s events industry, successful RFPs require more than a strong document. They require better communication, clearer expectations, and a stronger understanding of what both sides of the table actually need.

Aligned with CAEM 2026’s theme — WINNING with Innovation, LEADING with Experience — this interactive session brings together show managers and industry partners for an honest conversation about the realities behind how event partnerships are evaluated and awarded.

• Participants will explore:
• what makes an RFP process effective — or ineffective
• how suppliers decide whether an opportunity is worth pursuing
• where relationships build trust — and where they create tension
• how AI, generational shifts, and changing expectations are reshaping procurement conversations
• practical ways to improve both the process and the outcome

This is not a panel. Participants will actively work through real-world procurement tensions from both perspectives through audience polling, collaborative table exercises, and peer discussion.

Designed for both show managers and suppliers, this session offers practical insights, valuable networking opportunities, and actionable strategies attendees can immediately apply to strengthen RFP outcomes, improve business relationships, and advance their careers in exposition management.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Identify the elements of an effective and transparent RFP process
• Evaluate how relationships influence procurement fairness and decision-making
• Apply practical strategies to improve RFP planning, response quality, and long-term partnership success

Expect candid perspectives, active debate, and takeaways you can apply to your next RFP process immediately.

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Join us as we celebrate outstanding achievement at our Awards of Excellence celebration. This prestigious program honors individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence across the industry. From creative ingenuity to operational impact, we’ll shine a spotlight on those setting new standards and inspiring others through their work. Don’t miss this inspiring tribute to the best in the business.

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Conference Closing Dinner

As we wrap up an inspiring and productive conference, we invite you to join us for a special closing dinner aboard Windsor Premier Cruises sponsored by the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Enjoy a delicious meal, take in the beautiful waterfront views, and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. Let’s toast to shared successes, new connections and a memorable conference experience.

Join us for a memorable evening on the water. We look forward to celebrating with you!

**Closing dinner is included for all full delegate registrations.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $155 plus applicable taxes.**